Mercedes-AMG presented the EQE SUV, a further milestone in its electrification strategy – the first all-electric SUV from the performance and sports car brand. With its variable interior and performance-oriented drive concept, it is the most versatile electric vehicle in the Mercedes-AMG portfolio. The new model also offers generous space for passengers and luggage. Like the AMG EQS Saloon and AMG EQE Saloon, the AMG EQE SUV is based on the electric platform from Mercedes-EQ. Two powerful electric motors and the fully variable all-wheel drive form the basis for the hallmark AMG dynamic driving experience. The Mercedes-AMG developers have also designed many other parameters independently. These include the AMG RIDE CONTROL+ air suspension with Adaptive Damping System, rear-axle steering and AMG ACTIVE RIDE CONTROL – an AMG-specific roll stabilisation system. Added to this are the AMG SOUND EXPERIENCE and the exterior and interior design. Two variants of the new performance SUV are available: The entry-level Mercedes-AMG EQE43 4MATIC and the even sportier Mercedes-AMG EQE53 4MATIC+.
“The compact format of the EQE SUV, the short wheelbase and the performance-oriented drive concept form the perfect starting point for realising an agile, highly emotional and luxurious driving experience with our AMG-specific solutions. This particularly applies to the drive system, suspension, brakes and sound. It ensures that our customers can look forward to the Driving Performance that is a hallmark of our brand,” says Jochen Hermann, Chief Technical Officer of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
“The AMG EQE SUV is another milestone in our Future of Driving Performance. The new model is our first all-electric SUV. And, after the AMG EQS and AMG EQE Saloon models, this is already the third performance model that we have realised as a derivative on the Mercedes-EQ electric platform. With its variable interior and high-performance all-wheel drive, it is Mercedes-AMG’s most versatile electric vehicle. A real all-rounder – a real AMG!” says Philipp Schiemer, CEO of Mercedes-AMG GmbH.
The interior is also dominated by style-defining AMG features. Here, the new models offer a sporty ambience including seats with individual graphics and special seat covers in ARTICO man-made leather with MICROCUT microfibre and red topstitching. Alternatively, seat upholstery in nappa leather is optionally available, also with AMG-specific seat graphics. In addition, the AMG badge on the backrests of the front seats and the embossed AMG emblems in the front headrests emphasise the brand identity. The AMG Performance steering wheel with its striking twin-spoke design and seamlessly integrated buttons combines visual stability with lightness. The steering wheel rim, which is flattened at the bottom and covered in nappa leather, can be heated as an option. The standard AMG steering wheel buttons impress with brilliant displays. This allows important driving functions and the drive programs to be controlled without the driver’s hands leaving the steering wheel. Numerous parameters can be selected directly. The menus on the left steering wheel button can be individually supplemented, exchanged or reduced. For this, there is a list in the Multimedia Touch Display or in the optional Hyperscreen with more than 15 information and setting options as direct selection for the steering wheel buttons.
The exterior design is characterised by generously modelled surfaces, reduced joints and seamless transitions. Dynamic proportions emphasise the sporty character. Many AMG characteristic features guarantee a high recognition value and help strengthen the brand. These include the AMG-specific black panel radiator grille with hot-stamped vertical struts in chrome, integrated Mercedes star and “AMG” lettering. A new feature is the brand-specific badge on the bonnet with the AMG emblem instead of the Mercedes star: It now also adorns a purely electric vehicle from Mercedes-AMG for the first time. Another front-end feature is the AMG-specific front apron, painted in the body colour with A-wing in high-gloss black and a chrome trim. The same look characterises the front splitter in high-gloss black with chrome trim and flics and fins on the simulated air inlets. The air diffusers in high-gloss black on the left and right allow the AIR CURTAIN effect, which guides the air around the front wheels in a streamlined manner. The standard DIGITAL LIGHT headlamps feature a specific AMG projection when opening and closing the vehicle. In the side view, AMG-specific wheel arch claddings in the body colour and the seamlessly integrated, fully recessed door handles add visual accents. Added to this are aerodynamically optimised 21 or 22-inch AMG light-alloy wheels. The rear apron in the body colour with aerodynamically optimised diffuser and longitudinal fins as well as the tail lights in a helix design round off the dynamic appearance.
In Europe and China, dynamic content is also permitted on the passenger display while driving. Unrestricted viewing of films, text messages or presentations, plus internet surfing, are therefore possible. This is made possible by the “blanking function”, which prevents the driver from seeing the content. But even without dynamic content, the passenger display remains an attractive eye-catcher because then a new, AMG-specific screensaver appears. Both new models can be optionally equipped with the innovative MBUX Hyperscreen. This large, curved screen unit extends from A-pillar to A-pillar. Three screens sit under a single glass cover and appear to merge into one. With adaptive software, MBUX adapts completely to its user and offers personalised suggestions for numerous infotainment, comfort and vehicle functions. With the zero layer, the most important applications are always displayed situationally and contextually on the top level in the field of vision. MBUX offers a range of additional AMG functions that emphasise the performance character. This is particularly true of the distinctive displays in the instrument cluster, as well as the multimedia display and the head-up display. Quick access to the AMG DYNAMIC SELECT drive programs is provided by the corresponding direct-entry button in the centre console.
The AMG-specific electric motors at the front and rear axles are permanently excited synchronous motors (PSM). The decided emphasis on performance is already evident in the output and torque values. In addition, the electric motors are characterised by an optimal balance of power increase, efficiency and noise comfort. The electric motors of the EQE43 4MATIC SUV feature AMG-specific tuning and control. The EQE53 4MATIC+ SUV uses AMG-specific electric motors with adapted windings, different laminations, higher currents and adapted inverters. This allows higher motor speeds and thus even more power, which is particularly noticeable during acceleration and in the top speed. Both new Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV models offer a performance-oriented drive concept with two electric motors. The powerful electric powertrain (eATS) with a motor at the front and rear axle also offers fully variable all-wheel drive, which optimally transmits the drive power to the road in all driving conditions. The power spectrum ranges from 350 kW (476 hp) in the EQE43 4MATIC to 505 kW (687 hp) in the EQE53 4MATIC+ with optional AMG DYNAMIC PLUS Package with Boost function. The maximum torque ranges from 858 to 1000 Nm. The electric motor on the rear axle is particularly powerful thanks to its six-phase design, based on two windings with three phases each. The stator with pull-in winding ensures a particularly strong magnetic field.
The AMG RIDE CONTROL+ suspension with air suspension and Adaptive Damping System is based on four-link suspension at the front and multi-link independent suspension at the rear, each optimised with AMG-specific wheel carriers, suspension links and anti-roll bars with greater rigidity. In its basic features it corresponds to the suspension of the AMG EQS and the AMG GT four-door Coupé, but its set-up has been adapted to the AMG EQE SUV. The rear axle carrier is connected to the bodyshell with 50 per cent stiffer bearings and reduced bearing clearance to create even more direct road contact. The Adaptive Damping System uses two pressure limiting valves. These continuously variable control valves located outside the damper allow the damping force to be adjusted even more precisely to different driving conditions and drive programs: one valve controls the rebound phase, i.e. the force generated when the wheel rebounds; the other controls the compression phase when the wheel compresses. The rebound and compression phases are controlled independently of each other. This technology makes it possible to increase comfort on the one hand, but also to make the driving dynamics even sportier on the other hand.The AMG engineers have specifically tuned all components to meet the special requirements of Mercedes-AMG customers. This applies to ride comfort as well as driving dynamics.
The new Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV models are equipped with a powerful 328-volt high-performance drive battery manufactured using the latest lithium-ion technology. It has a usable energy content of 90.6 kWh and consists of ten modules with a total of 360 pouch cells. The battery management system in the EQE53 SUV is also tuned specifically for AMG. In the Sport and Sport+ drive programs the focus is on performance, in the Comfort drive program the focus is on operating range. The battery generation is characterised by a high energy density and has a high charging capacity. Another new feature is the possibility to install updates for the battery management system over-the-air for continuous improvements over the life cycle. The EQE53 4MATIC+ SUV also features an AMG-specific wiring harness adapted to the higher performance capability. A major advance in sustainability has been achieved in the cell chemistry: the cobalt content is reduced to ten percent, while the optimised active material consists of nickel, cobalt and manganese in a ratio of 8:1:1.
The battery design aims to ensure the optimum battery operating temperature under all operating conditions. The aluminium extrusions of the battery frame have defined cavities through which the coolant flows. All in all, the intelligent temperature and charging management ensures that high charging currents can be maintained for a long time. The standard heat pump uses the waste heat from the electric drive (inverter and electric motor) and the high-voltage battery to heat the interior. This reduces the need for battery power for interior heating, and thus increases the range. Another function is pre-entry climate control. The battery also stands out for its durability. The ECO Charging function makes a significant contribution to this: the intelligent control reduces the battery load during charging, and thus slows down the natural ageing process of the battery. Customers can also benefit from the “charging interruption” function: the charging process can be paused at freely selectable times so as to use cheaper off-peak electricity at a later time, for example. The battery certificate stands for the long service life of the high-voltage batteries. It is valid for up to ten years or up to 250,000 kilometres.